'BEWARE' OF RAVE PARTIES

Organizers of Toronto rave parties make it a point to reserve the
services of paramedics, who regularly haul away up to 20
designer-drugged revellers a night.

It's a frenzied scenario of high-intensity partying, drug overdoses
and potential tragedy that could be headed to Calgary, say Toronto
paramedic and police officials.

"(Calgary) should beware -- it's going to get bigger across the
country the way it's grown in Toronto," said Rick Boustead, spokesman
for Toronto Ambulance.

"For the amount of money to be made, there are a lot of people trying
to get into the business."

In the past few months, three young men attending raves in Toronto
have died from overdosing on designer drugs that could include the
amphetamine-based substance known as Ecstasy, which has become
synonymous with the parties.

Toronto rave organizers consider booking ambulance units -- for a fee
of $95 an hour for two paramedics -- to be a modest cost of doing business.

"(Organizers) don't even flinch because they're making so much money,"
said Boustead.

Toronto Ambulance is now considering adopting a policy to more heavily
staff the huge dance parties that have involved as many as 20,000 revellers.

"We have to ask is one ambulance enough for each 2,000 people," he
says.

"The sad part is, we're going to take 15-20 people away each
time."

Metro Toronto Police have created a specific unit to deal with the
Ecstasy problem.

"It is a growing problem in Toronto ... if Calgary's not faced with
this trend now, it could very well happen soon," said Det. Greg
Glendenning of one of the department's drug units.

Many of the designer drugs consumed at Toronto raves are manufactured
locally and are being consumed by youths unaware of legal and physical
consequences, said Glendenning.

Calgary police and paramedics say they've had limited contact with
Ecstasy and raves -- both of which are present here.

"That's not to say (Ecstasy) isn't a problem here," said Staff Sgt.
Paul Laventure.

Last month, the unit seized 31 grams of the drug at the Calgary
International Airport after the substance had arrived from B.C.'s
lower mainland.